Slow out there?...

[Artsand crafts]

Slow here too, north of Toronto. I think what happen in Vaughan with the over ratio daycare has something to to with it. It does not help for me that that location is kind of close to mine.

I decided 2 couple of months ago to open a new spot and have not have found someone yet. My area is usually slow, but this is even slower than before. I have had 2 interviews so far. First one I was sure mom and I would not be a good match, the second one the family found a daycare closer.

I also seen more day homes popping up and some are reducing their fees. I guess more moms are thinking on staying home and open a daycare. I am not reducing my fees and only would increase my working hours a bit if I end up several openings. In the meantime I will wait until the right family comes.

[Spixie33]

Ugh..yep...slow. In the summer, when I was full, I was turning people away on a regular basis and had a wait list 5 deep. Of course, now that a client has given her 1 month notice, everyone's disappeared, back into the woodwork. Wait list? Already placed. Yep....thanks for holding the info that you were looking around so close to your chest....so I couldn't actually USE anyone on my waiting list. Grrrrrrrr........ Everyone's now looking for Jan, Feb, Mar....sigh.......

My best prospects right now are for summer 2014. That is insane. I initially laughed them off but am now thinking I better keep in close contact because if things are slow like this then Summer 2014 might be the soonest I can do.

I have had the same issues. I had three on my waiting list in February and then I contacted everyone in June (for September spots) and they were all signed up elsewhere already

Buh humbug is how I feel right about now

[espresso33]

Well, although I'm glad I'm not the only one having trouble filling spots, I am sorry to hear that you're all having a dry spell as well! I've tried plenty of various advertising methods that worked without a problem for me in the past, so I don't think that's the issue. Mind you, where i am just north of Toronto, daycares are popping up around here by the day, in addition to the countless ones that are already running. This business is VERY competitive where I am. I guess I ll have to just wait this out, and hope that we're all once again busy sooner than later! Fingers crossed

[cfred]

It's very competitive where I live as well. Aside from the multitude of day homes in my neighbourhood, I back onto a school with daycare and there's another in the highschool on the corner. Yep....oodles and oodles of competition. I've done really well here so far, but worked my ass off to get here. Lots of looking at other daycares to see what's already being offered and mixing that up a bit, totally flaunting my ECE (paid for it, might as well make it useful) and aggressive advertising. It's soooo different working in a high density area opposed to rural. Holy cow....soooo competitive! I'm very, very happy to see another provider has moved in not too far from here and upped her fees to even be above mine (I'm $5 above the rest). FAB!!! It's time for our rates to go up On the upside, I just did my budget. Even with just 4 kids, I'm still financially ok....got a good chunk left at the end of the month....big relief! For now, I'll enjoy the easier days and wait for my perfect client to walk through the door.

Good luck to everyone else who're finding it slow. Hope you fill soon

[espresso33]

Yes, Cfred, where I am, a few of the providers have upped there fees as well. Not certain whether that's a good thing or not though? Off topic, what's really annoying is other dc providers coming over to see my space, pretending to be potential sign ons. I've been on this same block for many many years, but lately I've had so many "fakes", that I now recognize at the local park with their own daycare kids. ok, rant over. Best of luck to each and every one of us hard working ladies

[jammiesandtea]

Yes, Cfred, where I am, a few of the providers have upped there fees as well. Not certain whether that's a good thing or not though? Off topic, what's really annoying is other dc providers coming over to see my space, pretending to be potential sign ons. I've been on this same block for many many years, but lately I've had so many "fakes", that I now recognize at the local park with their own daycare kids. ok, rant over. Best of luck to each and every one of us hard working ladies

Espresso33, I would be furious about that too! Now I readily admit that I check out other providers' ads and their websites and their pictures of their daycare spaces, to get inspired with ideas for my own space or my program, etc, and to keep tabs on my competition.

But I would NEVER pretend to be a parent looking for care and take up a fellow provider's time and energy like that under false pretenses. That is disrespectful and way out of line. What is wrong with some people??

[espresso33]

Oh jammiesandtea, I really couldn't say what would drive certain people to think its ok to do this! Especially knowing we are all in the same business and treasure our personal time greatly...at least I do.

[mimi]

OMG expresso33 that is really criminal in my books. For someone to lie like that...........and they take care of kids. Just wow!!!

[cfred]

Jeez....hope I didn't give the impression that I actually went to these daycares to check them out. Criminy....I'm way too lazy for that! I looked at their websites and ads and went from there....still do. I keep track of who's full and who isn't and for how long, how many spaces are available and what they charge. As far as I'm concerned, I think that's fair game. It's a business and I want to be full as much as possible. I think part of that is finding out what's available in your area and offering something others don't. It's just good business I'd imagine. But no, I'd never actually go there. I've had a fake or 2 in my day and wasn't terribly appreciative.

[Momof4]

I suspected a fake or two in my early years as well, so now the pre-screening process is verrrrrry extensive.